Webpage last updated: July 25, 2025
The theme for National History Day 2027 is Innovation in History: Impact, Influence, Change. New technologies may be the first examples that come to mind such as the printing press, airplane, tv, or even the microwave. These are all important inventions, but it's important not to confuse invention with innovation. Innovation goes beyond creating new tools or devices; to finding new ways of thinking, organizing, and influencing society.
When considering the theme Innovation in History: Impact, Influence, Change, it is important to focus on what follows the word “Innovation.” This portion of the theme is essential, as it helps students begin shaping meaningful research questions to guide their inquiry. To fully explore innovation in a historical context, we must look beyond the idea itself and examine its effects. How did people, over time, imagine, develop, and implement new ideas, technologies, or methods? And in what ways did those innovations influence societies? Innovation can include social, political, cultural, and intellectual breakthroughs, as well as new technologies.